The Queen presented the Elizabeth Cross yesterday to the heartbroken relatives of six troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The emotionally-charged ceremony was the first time she had given out the honour - which was created to recognise the dead and those bereaved by war. The Queen spent 15 minutes presenting the silver crosses and chatting to the families at Catterick garrison in North Yorkshire.

Many later spoke of their pride - although one father complained it had taken the Royal Family too long to recognise his son's sacrifice.

All the dead were from the Queen's Royal Lancers, a cavalry regiment which has been in the thick of fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan for six years.

Tracey Hazel, who lost her son Corporal Ben Leaning, 24, to a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007, said: "I'm absolutely full of pride.

"Pride has taken away the hurt. Today has been very difficult for all the families. But when I met the Queen she was absolutely fantastic."

Jenny Turton, mother of Trooper Kristen, 27, who was killed in the same blast as Ben, said: "It's been sad, very sad and very painful, but it's been a very proud day.

"I would like to think Kristen didn't die in vain. I would like to think they have achieved something in Iraq, a better life for the people."

But Paul Pearson, father of Trooper Robert, 22, of Grimsby, killed by a mine in Afghanistan last year, said: "Robert died for Queen and country and you don't even get a letter from the Queen."

The other soldiers honoured were Corporal Stephen Allbutt, 35, from Stoke-on-Trent and Trooper David Clarke, 19, from Staffordshire, who were both killed by "friendly fire" during the invasion of Iraq. Bev Clarke, mother of David, said: "I've got mixed feelings. I'm proud ... but it shouldn't be me standing there in front of the Queen, it should be David."

The family of Sergeant Wayne Rees, 36, of Nottingham, who died in southern Iraq, were also presented with the medal.

The Elizabeth Cross - created after a campaign by our sister paper the Mirror - honours the sacrifice of wives, husbands, children and parents as well as those killed.